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Embryo transfer & scanning

Embryo transfer & scanning

Embryos recovered from donor hinds, once they have been assessed by the artificial breeding technicain as ‘usable’, are generally transferred within a few hours of harvesting (surplus embryos may be cryopreserved).

Embryo transfer, in which single embryos are transferred to each recipient, can be done either surgically or non-surgically.

Ultrasound scanning provides an early indicator of success of the transfer programme. This is best done 35-50 days after transfer, when the foetuses from successful transfers will be about 43-58 days of age. This timing is particularly important if the recipients were joined with stags at some stage after the transfers, in order to differentiate between successful transfers and later conceptions to ‘back-up’ stags.